Monday: Read Gal 1:1-9; Acts 13-14 The letter to the churches of Galatia is widely acknowledged as Paul’s first letter (and maybe the first book of the NT). Galatia was not a city but a region. Thus, this is the letter to the churches (plural) of Galatia (2). The region of Galatia was located in central and slightly eastern Asia Minor (i.e., modern-day Turkey). The extent of the region Galatia at the time of the NT is somewhat contested but... Read more
In my first post in this series, I suggested that the answer to this question is of “utmost significance.” NB: we interrupted this series of posts with a 4-part series on the Mark of the Beast and 666 (see: here for #1; #2; #3; and #4), as well as a few time-sensitive posts: Why I celebrate indigenous peoples day and not Columbus day and a post on the scandal that broke regarding the National Women’s Soccer League. Where is this going?... Read more
Monday: Read 2 Cor 10:1-18 As we noted before, 2nd Corinthians is Paul’s most autobiographical work. A large part of this is the result of Paul’s continued need to defend himself in order that they might accept him as an apostle. In chapters 10-13, Paul addresses groups with whom he disagrees in order that these matters may be settled before he arrives. In 1-11, he refers to some of the insiders who regard Paul as “walking according to the flesh”... Read more
‘YOU CANNOT DISCOVER lands already inhabited.’[1] This is the opening line in Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah’s excellent work, Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery. NB: I recently interviewed Mark Charles for the determinetruth podcast. You can find the episode here. Happy “Indigenous People’s Day.” I say this to the few surviving indigenous people. At the same time, this holiday is not one that I celebrate with pomp and fanfare, but with remorse and... Read more
News broke this week of the former US attorney General Sally Yates’ report regarding the systemic abuse that plagues the United States National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). The report stated that the league is one in which abuse and misconduct had become systemic. The report found that the abuse of female soccer players is rooted in a deeper culture of women’s soccer beginning in youth leagues. Should we be surprised? We live in a culture in which women are devalued... Read more
Monday: Read 2 Cor 5:11-6:2 2nd Cor 5:11-7:4 marks a new section in the book. Today’s reading of 5:11-21 might well be the key to the whole book! The section begins with Paul defending himself against outsiders. In particular, those who take pride in their appearance. Paul argues for the legitimacy of his ministry in terms of its character. His central point is that because Christ died for us we too have learned to die for Christ. As a result,... Read more
Oct 6, 2022, is the 8th annual “bring your Bible to school day.” What do you think of this campaign? I have mixed feelings and here’s why. On the positive side I suspect that bringing a Bible to school and having it out so that others might see it—which I suppose is the point of “bring your Bible to school day”—might well provide an opportunity for conversations. Others might ask, “what is that?”; or “what church do you go to?”;... Read more
Monday: Read 2 Cor 1:1-22 The problems in Corinth continue to build. That is right: what Paul said in 1st Corinthians didn’t help—well at least not enough. Many in Corinth continued to reject Paul’s claims as an apostle and they refused to listen to his counsel. As we discussed in 1st Corinthians, they rejected Paul for several reasons. For one, Paul refused to speak the way the professional rhetoricians (orators) did. They were funny. They knew how to win over... Read more
Over the last number of posts, I have been discussing what I believe is a biblical view of empire. We began by addressing the meaning and significance of 666. Then we began to ask what does the Bible say about the Beast of Revelation 13 and what does it mean for us. And there is still much to say about all of this. At the same time, soon after the queen’s passing, I was asked to write on the question... Read more
Monday: Read 1 Cor 15:1-11 1 Corinthians 15 is the longest extended speech of Paul on a single topic. This chapter is famously known as the resurrection chapter. Notice that the chapter does not begin with “now concerning.” Paul is no longer addressing their letter to him. Paul is, however, addressing a problem in the church in Corinth. This issue appears to be that “some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead” (12). In 15:1-11, Paul... Read more
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